I uploaded this video to YouTube on January 30, 2017.  I'm adding this video in its original MP4 format to Archive.org for archival purposes.


Artillery Duel.
By John Perkins.
Arcadian 2, no. 7 (May 19, 1980): 58-59. (Original Printing for Bally BASIC)
Best of Arcadian - 1980 (Tape)
Bally BASIC Handbook, Pages 95-96. (Referred to as the "AstroBASIC" Manual)
Arcadian 4, no. 4 (Jan. 22, 1982): 36. ("AstroBASIC" Manual, 1'st ed. Correction)
Arcadian 4, no. 5 (Mar. 05, 1982): 46. (Best of Arcadian - 1980 Announcement)
Arcadian 5, no. 4 (Feb. 18, 1983): 56. ("AstroBASIC" Manual, 2'nd ed. Correction)
Arcadian 5, no. 5 (Mar. 14, 1983): 77. (Correction to page 56 correction)

The original Bally Arcade/Astrocade BASIC version of John Perkins' Artillery Duel (first published in the May 19, 1980 issue of the Arcadian newsletter on pages 58 and 59) is compared to the 4K cartridge release of the game (part #5005) released by Astrocade Inc. as part of the Action/Skills Series in 1982.

Artillery Duel, originally printed in the Arcadian newsletter in 1980, is such an outstanding game that Astrocade, Inc. reprinted it in the "AstroBASIC" manual (this is the manual that comes with the BASIC cartridge that includes the build-in interface). Both editions of the "AstroBASIC" manual's re-printing had errors which were corrected in the Arcadian newsletter.

Instructions from the "AstroBASIC" manual:

"Artillery Duel is an intriguing game submitted courtesy of the Arcadian, a monthly newsletter serving the Bally BASIC programming hobbyist and published by Bob Fabris. This program sets up a random mountain scene and adds two gun emplacements. As each player's turn is taken, he adjusts the knob for barrel elevation, moves the joystick to add or reduce the number of gunpowder bags (by whole bags sideways; by tenths back and forth). Then when ready, pull the trigger. There is gravity and a random wind. The gun recoils and fires the shell. There is an explosion when it lands. A gun is destroyed when less than half a gun remains (the repair crew can replace a gun barrel). The program uses all available space, so don't enter lines 3 and 4. Be sure to exercise the joystick to see how the variables work."

Summary of Artillery Duel cartridge:

"Square off for an exciting duel of skill and cunning as you plan and carry out the destruction of your opponent.  Check the wind, make critical adjustments to barrel angle and powder charge, and fire.  The final explosion leaves no doubt as to the winner.  Random terrains ensure that every game is different!  A fantastic party game that's absolutely addictive for two players or teams."

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